Sportsoutlaw Investigative Report!

It's called the the 'Barlow Effect'(sometimes called 'JJ Arrington Syndrome') and is an epidemic that affects FFers all over the country each year, at this time of year.

It's not that everyone 'thinks' Addai will get the job...it's that they want...almost have a pavlovian need...for him to get the job.
So they can validate their picking of him in the early 4th (likely late 2nd/early 3rd if hype machine continues) and 'pound their chests' about being the FF genius/risk taker that got this year's breakout player.

The Syndrome or Effect is initiated by a number of factors:
1. A semi-breakout game or series of games by younger player
2. Rookie being drafted onto high profile offense
3. Immense HYPE from everywhere and anywhere

This hype-rush is common amongst FFers...and has been proven by independent studies to be more addictive than nicotine and heroin.

If you feel the onset of the symptoms of the 'Barlow Effect' (or JJAS):
1. Think beyond that one players breakout...how will your team look overall if you draft that player where he is going (likely higher by your real drafts)? Will it be worth it?
2. Do your actual projections/tierings for that player....again, will it be worth it?
3. Consider the 27.3% success rate of players with the common factors of the BE (JJAS)...is it worth it to be the ff genius/risk taker if your FF team is home for the playoffs?
4. If you went a safer route...would your team be that worse off without the BE (JJAS) candidate on your roster? Maybe better?
5. Reach out to a support group: http://www.sportsoutlaw.com/forum/nfl-fantasy-football/ has an excellent group. You can post your need to pick Addai and the brethren on the board...who know what you're going thru...will reach out to you.

Me: 'My name is Nano and I want to draft Addai in the early 3rd round.'

All from Sportsoutlaw.com(in unison): 'Hello Nano.'

Excellent, Nano! Although alot of times these players do try to trick us in training camp and preseason. Willis McGahee had the 3td's in a scrimmage vs the Browns, even before preseason, during the training camp. Davenpoop has excited us in the preseason before repeatedly, but maybe no longer able to confuse us. But Addai has us mesmerized very early using the dreaded hypnotic Vacume of Edge on us all. It is all cleverly designed to enrage that little monster in all of us.

great read my man! And the point is dead on!!!

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I remember alot of FFers that developed a burning desire to draft Peeless Price that took a couple of years to clear up.

I am still banking on Addai starting, but I wouldn't draft him in the 3rd round.

Got a good laugh out of this though.

Some of these go back a bit from the old days elsewhere but other BE/JJAS candidates from the past:
David PatteRn
Ben Gay
Nick Goings
Amos Zeroue
William Green
Kevin Jones (at least till now)

I'm obviously poking fun and honestly not sure of Addai. Best case scenario I personally think it'll be RBBC or Rhodes(complicated offense with complicated blocking schemes/assignments/etc.) to start the season with Addai taking over maybe midseason.

If nothing else though, read the 'If you feel the onset of the symptoms of the Barlow Effect (or JJAS)'.

If you like him, great. But don't, as many FFers do this time of year, blindly go after him without really looking how it could affect your entire team, team's performance long term.

I'm just saying really consider your team/draft overall/long term beyond being the ff genius who gets the young 'breakout' guy.

If after all that, you still think he's worth it, fine.
But at least put the thought into it beyond just the urge to look like a genius.

Don't forget Antoine Womack! Hell with all the Mike Bell hype we've seen here, he is reminding me of him!

I remember a few people hyping up Ben Gay. All I could ever do is laugh at the name.

hey nan, dont you draft 2 or 3 RBs every year from this pool?

Yes...which is why I'm passing on this advice so others don't feel the pain I have.

The Panthers have an abundance of running backs on their roster and Eric Shelton, a second-round pick last year, is very much on the bubble and may not make the final roster, according to the Sporting News.

There have been rumblings out of Carolina since last season that Shelton has been a bust and the team would consider parting ways despite the high pick they spent to acquire him. He landed on the IR during the preseason as a rookie, which allowed them to put the decision off another year. The addition of DeAngelo Williams now has made Shelton even more expendable. Eric will have to prove he can be a Stephen Davis-like runner in short-yardage situations if he wants to be wearing teal and black in 2006.

One of 2 rookie Rbs that got hyped last year as becoming short yardage/td monsters. Many people had this guy hyped as taking over the Panther running game comepletely.

<-----Victim of the JJ Arrington sleeper hype last year. Though I am willing to defend him still. cant run when the defense meets you in the backfield.

This turned out to be the biggest rookie rb hype of the season, It seemed that he landed in the perfect spot and actually it was true as he got to start, which is rare enough, but as you say the line didn't perform well at all. The big problem comes from going after these rookie rb's way to early in the draft.

How could we all forget Maurice Clarett????

This guy proclaimed himself king, while everyone else thought him a serving boy, lol.

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Great, now I'm going to start getting those Kevan Barlow flashbacks again.

Maybe we should list our most likely Barlow candidates this year.

Reggie Bush

I have to agree with Mike here. I am not totally sold on Bush and his overall abilities at the pro level. Come one, really. He was in a pro-like offense at USC playing against college-level defensive schemes. He will find the linebackers, safeties and defensive linemen faster, quicker, and more aware than at the college level. I do like his community service PR stuff, it shows very good character...now let us see what happens when it comes down to contract talks...

Even though Addai this year is a rookie that is getting thrust into a potential starter oppertunity it is about looking for and going to early for the big breakout guy. Barlow, hense the term Barlow Effect, spent quite awhile behind Garrison Hearst, before getting the oppertunity for a breakout season.

Last year had some potential breakout guys and JJ Arrington was one of them. Some of these turn out good and some of these guys turn on us. Lamont Jordon was one, big oppertunity to become the starter finally and produced very nicely. On the other hand Kevin Jones had 1100 yards the year before and got us caught up in the big Lions O will kick ass this year hype. Many FFers are still waiting for Kevin Jones to get the other 667 yards to go with the 667 yards he did get.

What you have to remember about Barlow though is every year, without fail, Barlow was going to take over the starting job. Come game 1, he was on the bench.

The next season? Same hype, same result.